After 15 years as an assistant coach, including two as Marion County's offensive coordinator, Joey Mathis earned an impressive win in his head coaching debut last week, leading the Warriors to a 39-3 romp at Hixson.
So how did Mathis celebrate his first career victory when he returned to Jasper?
"Me and the other coaches washed the uniforms, cleaned up the locker room and started watching film," Mathis said with a laugh. "We didn't really do anything special - no dinner with my wife or anything like that. We just went right back to work.
"I enjoyed listening to the kids celebrate on the bus ride home, but once we got back it was time to start cleaning up and planning for the next game."
Mathis was the only Chattanooga-area first-year head coach to win his debut last week. Boyd-Buchanan's Carter Cardwell will try for his first win in the Buccaneers' season opener tonight against The King's Academy.
Last season Marion's offense averaged 44 points per game with Mathis calling the plays, and in last week's game the Warriors scored five times in barely more than the first 12 minutes. The Warriors, who have reached the state title game each of the past two seasons, are ranked No. 2 in Class 2A.
"That first game is scary because you've spent all summer preparing for it, and all I wanted was to get that first win out of the way," Mathis said. "Now we've done that, and it was special. Nobody can ever take it away from us, but that's over now and we had to start planning for the next one."
Central hall of famers
Hall of Fame ceremonies are scheduled tonight for five former Central athletes.
Ceremonies begin at 5:30 at the school cafeteria with a barbecue dinner.
The group of five athletes, which covers four decades, consists of Steve Arnold (track and field, class of 1972), Gina Brooks (softball, 1985), Steve Carroll (football, 1966), Rick Duncan (baseball, 1971) and Gene Hall (boxing, 1952).
The induction ceremony will take place at 6:15 prior to the Purple Pounders' football game against Soddy-Daisy, the first home game for new coach Cortney Braswell.
"It's an honor and a privilege to just walk in the door and see the past. To have my name associated is an honor I don't take lightly," Braswell said.
Rams missing five
Since the start of preseason practice, Tyner has lost more than a half-dozen players. One, defensive end Markize Gillispie, was injured last spring (neck) and Rams coach Wayne Turner said doctors have not released him to play and probably won't.
While two of the injured have returned, one Turner will miss tonight is Jaylen Bowens, one of several Rams who play quarterback.
"He is probably our best player on either side of the ball," Turner said of Bowens, who plays running back, receiver and safety also.
Bowens tweaked a knee in a scrimmage but might return next week.
Old foes united
When he was coaching at Meigs County, Stan Eller's teams used to have some serious battles with Tyner. Now the two old rivals have been united.
"I always wanted to see how he did what he does, and I'm really enjoying it," Eller said of coaching with Turner. "The kids buy into what he's doing. It's a great atmosphere."
Turner is delighted that Eller has joined Rick Rogers, another teacher from Central, on his football staff.
"He's a great coach, a great person and he's been a real plus for us," Turner said. "He's as good a coach as there is."
Quick start for 6-AAAA
A preseason computer ranking of Georgia's regions was not kind to one area league. In the Class AAAA rankings Region 6 was ranked at the bottom. After one week of play, however, that region's teams are making a case for respect after posting a 7-1 mark.
"This region may not have the overall athletes of some, but the teams in this league are well coached and are always competitive," said Northwest Whitfield coach Josh Robinson, whose team had an impressive 49-24 win over Ringgold. "You saw that last year when our third and fourth playoff teams gave Marist and St. Pius really good playoff games. I think we might change some minds this year about this region."
Two other teams gained some statewide notice as Ridgeland dealt Adairsville - a 12-win team last year - a 49-7 loss and Pickens blasted 6A Chattahoochee 49-19. Southeast Whitfield and Heritage posted lopsided shutouts, and LaFayette topped Armuchee. Only Gilmer lost, by three to Fannin County.
Owls' Smith to FedEx
Former Ooltewah and University of Tennessee standout Jacques Smith has taken a job with Federal Express.
The defensive lineman had been in camp with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football league but suffered a knee injury and decided it was time to shelve his football career.
Smith will be working in human resources at the FedEx corporate offices in Memphis.
Brady to start for JSU
Josh Brady, a 2016 Silverdale Baptist Academy graduate, has secured a starting role as a true freshman at NCAA FCS power Jacksonville State. He will be the team's long snapper after beating out a fifth-year senior, according to Brent Brady, his father.